Oscillating ink rolls



April 20, 1965 R. s. oRDwAY OSCILLATING INK ROLLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 1963 ATTORNEY April 20, 196s R. s, ORDWAY 3,179,047

OS'CILLATING INK ROLLS Filed July 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 les Ba sa 250B ATTOR N EY United States Patent O 3,179,047 OSCILLATIN G INK ROLLS Richard S. (irdway, Haverhill, Mass., assigner to George 0. Comeau, Haverhill, Mass. Filed July 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,309 12 Claims. (Cl. 101,-348) The present invention relates to oscillating ink rolls and particularly to such rolls in which the reciprocable motion is effected by fluid under pressure.

Because of the difficulty of securing a distribution of ink that is sufficiently uniform to ensure satisfactory results, ink rolls oscillated by mechanical means have been provided. These have not been satisfactory becauseof their cost and because their operation was not sufficiently smooth and flexible to ensure desired results.

A principal objective of the present invention is, accordingly, the provision of such a roll and another objective is to provide for the reciprocation of the roll to be effected by uid under pressure.

Another objective of the invention is to provide reliable and efficient valve control means for effecting the delivery of the iluid under pressure to cause the reversal of the direction of travel ofthe roll when in either one of its extreme positions and a particular objective is to have such valve controlled means utilize the fluid under pressure by which roll reciprocation is effected.

In accordance with those objectives, an oscillating ink roll includes a shaft, cylinder supported thereby for sliding axial movement between a first position in which one cylinder end Wall comes into a predetermined relationship adjacent one end of a iixed, cylindrical piston fixed on the shaft coaxially thereof and a second position in which the other cylinder wall comes into a predetermined relationshipl adjacent the other endof the piston. A sleeve, functioning as a roller, is connected to the cylinder to move axially therewith and to rotate independently thereof.

Means are provided to deliver fluid to either end of the piston and to exhaust it from the other end thereof and control means for the delivery means are operable, in either position to effect reversal of the motion of the roller. In practice, the control means includes a balanced control valve with valve shifting resulting by upsetting that balance mechanically in either of the above referred to positions.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention fromwhich these and other of its objectives, novel features, and advantages will be readily apparent.

In the drawings: j

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinally sectioned view of an ink roll in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section of the cylinder and the fixed piston on a substantially increased scale,

FIGURE 3 is a View of the ixed piston from end thereof, and l FIGURE 4 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

The oscillating, ink spreading roll shown in the drawings has a tubular shaft divided by a block 11 having an O-ring 12 to provide an intake passage 10A and an exhaust Vor relief passage 19B. The shaft 10 is to he supported conventionally and has the outer endof the passage 10A threaded for the attachment of a conduit, not shown, from a source of iiuid under pressure, air in the case of the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Adjacent the block 11, there is aport 13 and the passage 10B has a port 14.

A generally indicated cylindrical piston 15 is fixed on the shaft 10 coaxially thereof and is shown as consisting 3,179,047 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 F"ice of a central section 16 and end sections 16A and 16B joined thereto as by bolts 17, see FIGURE 3. The piston 15 is within a cylinder 18 with the end sections 16A and 16B carrying O-ring seals 19 and 20 in engagement therewith. The cylinder 18 has end walls 18A and 18B slidably receiving the shaft 10 so that the cylinder 18 may be slid axially from one position in which the cylinder end wall 18A engages or closely approaches the end of the piston section 16A into another position in which the end wall, 18B engages or closely approaches the end of the piston section 16B.

The end wall 18B carries a rod 21 slidable in a collar 22 fast on the shaft 10 thereby to hold the cylinder 18 against rotation while permitting it to slide back and forth between the two above referred to positions.

A roller in the form of a sleeve 23, considerably larger than the cylinder 18, and having its inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the cylinder 18, has annular ends 23A and 23B each having a bushing 24 providing a slidable bearing contact with the shaft 10. A thrust ball bearing unit 25 connects the sleeve 23 to the cylinder 18, a result attained by providing the cylinder end 18A with a shoulder 26 on which the bearing unit 25 is anchored as by a threaded ring 27 and by providing the bearing unit 25 with a projecting annular sleeve 28 into which the annular flange 29 of the sleeve end 23A is threaded.

The piston section 16 has, see FIGURES 3 and 4, parallel bores 30, 31, 32, and 33 with the port 13 opening into the` bore 30 which slidably receives the generally indicated valve 34 and with the port 14 opening into V the bore 31. The bores 32 and 33 have their proximate ends axially alined but spaced from each other by a web 35. As may be seen in FIGURE 4, the ends of the bore 31 are closed by the piston ends 16A and 16B which have bores 30A and 30B, respectively, alined with and in communication with the bore 30 and also have bores 32A and 32B, respectively. The bore 32A is in communication with the bore 32 and the bore 33B is in communication with the bore 33.

Within the proximate ends of the bores 30A and 30B, there are annular stops 36A and 36B, respectively, which confine the valve 34 but permit the passage of air into the bores 30A and 30B. The valve 34 has a central, relatively wide annular channel 37 which at `all times is in communication with the intake port 13 and which is spaced from end channels 38 and 39 to provide intermediate portions 40 and 41.

Ports 42 and 43 are proximate to each other with the port 42 effecting communication between the bore A30 and the bore 32 and with the port 43 effecting communication between the bore 30 and the bore 33. Remote transverse ports 44 and 45 are provided, the port 44 to eiect communication between the bore 30 and the bores 31 and 32 and the port 45 to effect communication between the bores 31 and 33.

The various ports are spaced and arranged relative to each other and to the annular valve channels so that in one position of the valve 34, see FIGURE 4, the port 13 and the port 42 are placed in communication by the valve channel 37, the port 44 is blocked by the intermediate valve portion 40, the port 43 is blocked by the intermediate portion 41, and the port 45 is open via the annular channel 39. Air is thus delivered into one end` of the cylinder via the bore 32 and 32A and is vented from the other end thereof via the bore 33B and 33. The cylinder A 18 and,accordingly, the roller 23 are moved to the left.

pressure side.

into the other is also effected by fluid pressure. This result is attained by providing the valve 3d with axial passages 46A and 45B, see FIGURE 2, with radial bleeder lines 47A and 47Blin communication therewith so that at all times there is a flow of air into the bores 30A and 30B. The bores SQA and 3GB do'not extend through the end sections 16A and 16B, respectively, but these have bores 48A and 48B, respectively, slidably receiving the stems 49A and 49B, respectively, of valves 59A and StlB. The valves 50A and 50B are held seated by springs SlA and 51B, respectively, thus to normally close the relief ports 52A and 52B.

In practice, the piston is relieved as at 53 between its seals and the relief ports 52A and 52B open into the relieved area with the-relief ports 52A and 52B beingy substantially larger, as to cross sectional areas, than the bleeder ports 47A and 47B, respectively. The cylinder 18 has an outlet 54 in communication with the relieved zone 53. Y

As the valves 50A and 59B are normally closed and as the springs 51A and 51B are balanced, and as the air pressure between them and the piston is equal, the valve 34 does not move. When, however, a valve stem 49A, 49B is engaged by a cylinder end wall lSA, 18B, it is pushed inwardly as the cylinder 18 moves. The appropriate one of the valves SilA, 50B is thus opened tovent air from that side of the valve 34 thus to so unbalance it as to cause its movementl in a direction towardsthe reduced The valve 34 is, accordingly, moved by the pressure on the high pressureside and its position is maintained until the opposite limit of cylinderV travel relative to the piston 15 is reached to again shift it. By these means, the. valve 34v is shifted to so control the flow of fluid under pressure as to cause the axial reciprocation of the roller 23. In practice, the pressure of the delivered iluid is not varied but the speed of roll reciprocation is controlled bythe needle valve 55 in control of a relief port 56, the needle valve having a stem 57 exposed through the end of the shaft passagelliB.

I claim:

l. In an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, ak cylindrical pistonV within said cylinder and fixed on said shaft coaxially thereof, Vsaid cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinderend is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of a cylindrical sleeve connected to saidcylinder to move axially therewith and supported by said shaft to rotate with respect thereto, both ends of said shaft having aV passage, one passage for the delivery of uid under pressureand the other for the relief thereof, said piston having a port in each end, valve means simultaneously to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially in one direction relative toY saidY shaft, and means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement Yof said cylinder and roller. I

'2.A In an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, a cylindrical piston within said cylinder and fixed on said shaft coaxially thereof, said cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end' of thecylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second 'positionin which the other cylinder end is the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially in one direction relative to said shaft, and means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and roller.

3. n an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, a cylindrical piston within said cylinder and fixed on said shaftcoaxially thereof, said cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinder end is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of a cylindrical sleeve including ends slidably and rotatably connected to said shaft to move axially therewith but to rotate with respect thereto, means slidably connecting said cylinder to said shaft, both ends of said shaft having a passage, one passage for the delivery of Huid under pressure and the other for the relief thereof, said piston having a port in each end, valve means simultaneously to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially in one direction relative to said shaft, and means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and roller.

t. one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinder end is r. respect thereto, both ends of said shaft having a passage, one passage `for the delivery of fluid under pressure and adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of `a ouslyv to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and Y the other for the relief thereof, valvemeans in control of said relief passage, said piston having a port in each end, valve means simultaneously to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially in one direction relative to said shaft, and means to shift said` valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and roller.

6. The ink rollof claim 5 in which the valve means includes a seat in the relief passage, a needle valve adjustable relative thereto and including a stem exposed at one end of the shaft.

7. In an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supportedlby said shaft, acylindrical piston within said cylinder and fixed on said shaft coaxially thereof, sai-d cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinder end is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in theA form of a cylindrical sleeve connected to said cylinder and Asupported by said shaft to move axially therewith but to rotate with respect thereto, both ends of lsaid shaft having a passage, one passage for the delivery of fluid under pressure and the other for the relief thereof,said piston having a` port in each end, balanced valve means simultaneously to connect oneVV piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to movesaid cylinder and roller axially in one direction reiative to said shaft, and means to unbalance said valve means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and roller. .i

8. The ink roll of claim 7 in which the valve means include at each end a spring, a pressure chamber in cornmunicaticn with the delivery passage, and a relief valve, each relief valve including a stem projecting `from an appropriate end of the piston to be engaged by the cylinder in one position thereof.

9. In an oscillating ink roll, a Shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, a cylindrical `piston within said cylinder and xed on said shaft coaxially thereof, said cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinder end is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of a cylindrical sleeve connected to said cylinder and supported by said shaft to move axially therewith but to rotate with respect thereto, said roller having a vent, both ends of said shaft having a passage, one passage for the delivery o-f air under pressure and the other for the relief thereof and opening into said roller, said piston having a port in each end, balanced valve means simultaneously to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially in one direction relative to said shaft, and means to unbalance said valve means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse thedirection of axial movement of said cylinder and roller.

10. In an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, a cylindrical piston Within said cylinder and xed on said shaft coaxially thereof, said cylinder being slidable between a first position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the pistonV and a second position in which the other cylinder end is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of a cylinder sleeve connected to said cylinder and supported by said shaft to move axially therewith but to rotate with respect thereto, said roller having a vent, both ends of said shaft having a passage, one passagefor the delivery of air under pressure and the other for the relief thereof, and opening into said roller, said piston having a port in each end, balanced valve means simultaneously to connect one piston port to one shaft passage and the other of the piston ports to the other shaft passage thereby to means to shift said valve means when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and roller, and each relief valve including a port opening through the cylinder wall.

1l. In an oscillating ink roll, a shaft, a cylinder slidably supported by said shaft, a cylindrical piston within said cylinder and fixed on said shaft coaxially thereof, said cylinder being slidable between a rst position in which one end of the cylinder is adjacent one end of the piston and a second position in which the other cylinder end is adjacent the other piston end, a roller in the form of a'cylindrical vsleeve connected to said cylinder and supported by said shaft to move axially therewith but to rotate with respect thereto, both ends of said shaft having a passage, one passage for the delivery of iiuid under pressure and the other for the relief thereof, said piston having an outlet passage opening through each end, an exhaust passage whose ends are closed and which is in communication with said relief passage, and an intermediate bore in communication with said delivery passage, said piston having four transverse ports, each of the two proximate ports connecting said bore to an appropriate one of saidoutlet passages and each of the two remote ports connecting said exhaust passage to an appropriate one of said delivery passages through said bore, and a valve slidable in said bore between two positions, in each position the proximate port for one delivery passage being open and the remote port of the other delivery passage being open, thereby to move said cylinder and roller axially, and means to shift said valve from one position to the other when said cylinder is in either of said positions thereby to reverse the direction of axial movement of said cylinder and -said roller.

12. The ink roll of claim 11 in which the piston passage and bore are in the same plane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,666,127 4/ 28 Folberth et al. 91-329 2,040,33 1 5 36 Peyrebrune lOl-348 2,318,504 5/43 Lodding. 2,642,045 6/ 5 3 Potts.

FOREIGN PATENTS 533,127 2/41 Great Britain. 828,825 2/ 60 Great Britain.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN OSCILLATING INK ROLL, A SHAFT, A CYLINDER SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT, A CYLINDRICAL PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER AND FIXED ON SAID SHAFT COAXIALLY THEREOF, SAID CYLINDER BEING SLIDABLE BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH ONE END OF THE CYLINDER IS ADJACENT ONE END OF THE PISTON AND A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH THE OTHER CYLINDER END IS ADJACENT THE OTHER PISTON END, A ROLLER IN THE FORM OF A CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE CONNECTED TO SAID CYLINDER TO MOVE AXIALLY THEREWITH AND SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT TO ROTATE WITH RESPECT THERETO, BOTH ENDS OF SAID SHAFT HAVING A PASSAGE, ONE PASSAGE FOR THE DELIVERY OF FLUID UNDER PRES- 